States death penalty

HA NOI (VNS) — Lawmakers yesterday agreed to abolish the death penalty for several crime categories, but many insisted the death sentence for corruption remain, saying that if the crime was not punished properly, it would cause disorder in society. Discussing the revised Penal Code at the on-going ninth National Assembly (NA) session, deputies said that the number of death penalties should be reduced and the numbers of those given amnesty increased. The majority of the NA Committee for Justice members agreed to abolish seven out of 22 categories attracting the death penalty, including robbery, destroying important works, creating war and for war crimes. In a talk with reporters, Nguyen Ba Thuyen from the southern province of Lam Dong, welcomed the move, saying that the abolishment showed the humanity of the revised code. However, he disapproved the abolishment of the penalty for drug trafficking and trading. "Traffickers and traders may take advantage of this regulation to avoid … [Read more...] about NA amends death penalty

Punishing economic corruption and showing leniency to repentants were issues still being debated, Nguyen Son, National Assembly delegate and deputy chief justice of the Supreme People's Court, told Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Countryside Today). Article 39 of the draft of the Revised Criminal Code says that for economic crimes, a death sentence can be commuted if the offender recompenses a certain percentage of the misappropriated amount. This has raised concerns that criminals can use money to escape the worst punishment. Can you comment on this? It is a fact that opinions still differ on this issue. Some people support humane treatment of the person who has been sentenced to death, if he submits to the State Budget a sum equivalent to the misappropriated amount. The (Revised Code) Compiling Board has held that in corruption cases, if the loss is compensated, it is possible to consider commuting the death sentence. If they (persons facing the death penalty) honestly want to redeem … [Read more...] about Opinions divided over cash for death penalty clemency

Former CEO of the Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Ocean Bank), Nguyen Xuan Son has just had the death penalty proposed while the bank's former chairman, Ha Van Tham faces a life sentence for appropriating state assets. Former CEO of Ocean Bank, Nguyen Xuan Son and the bank's former chairman, Ha Van Tham and over 40 defendants attend a trial in Hanoi on September 14. The sentences were proposed Thursday by the Hanoi People’s Court at an on-going trial of 51 ex-staff of Ocean Bank and PetroVietnam in one of the largest corruption cases in recent years.According to the court, Ha Van Tham during his chairmanship of the Oceanbank and his accomplices, who are other former leaders and employees of the bank, committed many violations including paying higher, off the record, interest than the ceiling rate, causing serious losses to the bank and its shareholders, and affecting the implementation of the central bank’s monetary policy. Their violations resulted in losses of … [Read more...] about Former OceanBank CEO faces death penalty for embezzlement

Lawmakers on April 7 discussed abolishing the death penalty for several crime categories as well as criteria for commuting capital punishment sentences to life imprisonment.
The topics came up as the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee reviewed provisions of the revised Penal Code.
The revised Penal Code will consist of 26 chapters and 427 clauses. Eighty-seven clauses have been added and changes made to 370.
The revisions are expected to make the Penal Code more transparent and effective, said Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong.
One issue that generated heated debate was death penalty restrictions.
Nguyen Van Hien, Chairman of the NA Justice Committee, said most members agreed with the Government proposal to restrict death penalties by reducing the number of crime categories that would attract the final punishment.
It not only reflected the State's humanitarian approach, but would also further judicial reform, he said.
Under the revised law, the number of crimes that can … [Read more...] about Death penalty restrictions discussed

The chants have turned into a rallying cry for many Indians outragedby the rape and murder of a student in New Delhi in December 2012. On Friday, four men convicted of the crime are set to learn theirfate when a New Delhi judge delivers a verdict on a case that sparked anational outcry. The prosecution has called for a death penalty. "The common man will lose faith in the judiciary if the harshestpunishment is not given," special public prosecutor Dayan Krishnan toldtrial judge Yogesh Khanna during a court session on Wednesday. The parents of the victim, who may not be identified for legalreasons, also support a death sentence. "They finished my daughter, theydeserve the same fate," the victim’s father told reporters outsidecourt earlier this week. Under Indian law, the death penalty is reserved for the "rarest ofrare" cases. Even when it is imposed, the authorities have rarelycarried out executions. But an eight year unofficial moratorium on executions in India endedon … [Read more...] about India brings back death penalty over rape, terrorism

Governments and campaigners on Sunday urged a worldwide end to the death penalty, singling out the United States, Iran and China and denouncing executions of children and other vulnerable groups. People hold placards showing persons sentenced to death as they participate in a demonstration in front of the Centre national d\'Art et Culture Georges Pompidou in Paris, to protest against death penalty. Governments and campaigners urged a worldwide end to the death penalty, singling out the United States, Iran and China and denouncing executions of children and other vulnerable groups. Japan, which counted 107 prisoners on death row as of last month, saw one of the first demonstrations to mark Sunday\'s action called by the Paris-based World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. … [Read more...] about World protest urges end to death penalty

The number of death penalties carried out worldwide dropped last year according to an annual report released Friday by an Italian non-governmental organisation.
The global number dropped from 5,004 in 2011 to 3,967 in 2012, while the number of countries that abolished capital punishment rose from 155 to 158 over the same period, the Italian NGO Hands off Cain said.
"The significant decrease in death penalties is to a great extent thanks to China, where they dropped from 4,000 to 3,000 in just a year," Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said at a press conference to present the report.
In China, the number of death penalties has dropped 10 percent each year since 2007, when a new law meant death sentences had to go before the Supreme Court.
Despite the significant decrease, China remains the first country on the Hands off Cain blacklist, followed by Iran, which carried out 580 executions in 2012, and Iraq, where the number of death penalties almost doubled over the last year to … [Read more...] about World abolishing death penalty, despite hiccups

HCM CITY (VNS)- The People's Court of HCM City yesterday sentenced three men to death in a corruption case involving the Agribank Financial Leasing Company No 2 (ALCII) after 10 days of trial.
The death penalties were handed down to Vu Quoc Hao, 59, ex-general director of ALCII; Pham Minh Tuan, 57, former director of Xuan Viet Co. Ltd.; and Hoang Loc, 49, ex-general director of the Viet Nam Assessment JSC. All were charged with embezzlement.
Nguyen Van Tai, 55, ex-general director of ALCII; Vu Duc Hoa, 35, ex-director of Cat Long Hai JSC; Le Thi Minh Hue, 45; and Le Phuc Duc, 38, ex-chief of the assessment division under Viet Nam Assessment JSC, were sentenced to life in prison. … [Read more...] about Three given death penalty for fraud

TheHanoi People’s Procuracy has demanded death penalty for two formerexecutives of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) who wenton trial on December 12. Duong Chi Dung (left) and Mai Van Phuc at the court Former Chairman of Vinalines DuongChi Dung and former General Director Mai Van Phuc have beencharged with intentionally violating State regulations on economicmanagement causing severe consequences and embezzlement. Imprisonment of between 22-24 years was recommended for Tran Huu Chieu,Vinalines’s former Vice General Director, and between 28-30 years forTran Hai Son, Director of Vinalines Ship Repair Co. Ltd, on the samecharges. The prosecutors also sought 6-8 years in prison forBui Thi Bich Loan, Vinalines’ former chief accountant, Le Van Duong,former official at Vietnam Registry, and Huynh Huu Duc, Le Ngoc Trienand Le Van Lung, former officials at Van Phong Customs Office, Khanh Hoaprovince; and 8-10 years for Mai Van Khang, member of … [Read more...] about Death penalty proposed for Vinalines former bosses

HA NOI (VNS)— The Ha Noi People's Procuracy has requested the death penalty for two former executives of the Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), who went on trial on Thursday.
Former Chairman of Vinalines Duong Chi Dung and former General Director Mai Van Phuc have been charged with intentionally violating State regulations on economic management, causing severe consequences, and also with embezzlement.
Imprisonment of between 22-24 years was recommended for Tran Huu Chieu, Vinalines's former Vice General Director, and between 28-30 years for Tran Hai Son, Director of Vinalines Ship Repair Co. Ltd, on the same charges.
The prosecutors also sought 6-8 years in prison for Bui Thi Bich Loan, Vinalines' former chief accountant, Le Van Duong, former official at Viet Nam Registry, and Huynh Huu Duc, Le Ngoc Trien and Le Van Lung, former officials at Tan Phong Customs Office, Khanh Hoa province. Also, an 8-10 year sentence was recommended for Mai Van Khang, member of … [Read more...] about Vinalines ex-heads face death penalty